Search Privacy Violations, Breaches and Complaints
This database was last updated in December 2015 ago and should only be used as a historical snapshot. More recent data on breaches affecting 500 or more people is available at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Breach Portal.
COMMUNITY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Cited by the California Department of Public Health for a violation of California’s Health and Safety Code relating to medical privacy during an inspection that began on June 17, 2014. Also cited in 62 other reports.
Report ID: RNO811, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: COMMUNITY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on staff interview, clinical and administrative document review, the facility failed to keep Protected Health Information (PHI) confidential when:1. Patient 1's home medications were given to Patient 2 upon discharge from hospital. (CA00399149)2. Patient 3's electronic medical record (EMR) was accessed by an employee without a business need to know. (CA00395729)3. Patient 4's medical records were faxed to the wrong number. (CA00400597).These failures placed the PHI for Patients 1, 3, and 4 at risk for unauthorized use.Findings:CA003991491. On 6/17/2014 at 10:38 a.m. during a telephone interview, the Privacy Officer (PO) stated Clinical Nurse 1 (CN 1) mis-labeled Patient 1's home medications with Patient 2's name. The medications were then given to Patient 2 upon discharge. Patient 2 returned the medications to the hospital. The PO stated CN 1 should have checked to make sure it was the correct label before placing it on the medications. Patient 1's PHI breached include: name and medication type.CA003957292. On 6/17/2014 at 10:45 a.m., during a telephone interview, the PO stated Employee 1 (E 1) accessed Patient 3's EMR on 4/12/14, 4/13/14, 4/15/14, and 4/18/14 without a business need to know.Patient 3's PHI breached include: name, address, date of birth, gender, medical record number, account number and clinical information.CA004005973. On 6/17/2014 at 10:53 a.m., during a telephone interview, the PO stated Patient 4's medical records were faxed to an incorrect number. The PO stated the Social Worker entered the number into the fax machine wrong. The PO stated the SW should have verified the number before faxing any documents.Patient 4's PHI breached include: name, date of birth, gender, address, social security number, insurance number, insurance information, medical record number, account number, medications, and discharge summary.The Hospital's Policy and Procedure titled, "HIPAA General Rules for the Use and Disclosure of PHI" dated 4/18/12 indicated, "Protected health information includes any information received, created or maintained by... in which the patient is... identified, regardless of whether the information is in oral, paper or electronic form. It is the responsibility of all ... workforce members to comply with policies and procedures..."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights